University Policy
Any student travel that is facilitated by the Law Center (e.g., via funding, academic credit, administrative organization of internship opportunities, and/or other support) must comply with Georgetown University's Travel Warning Policy. That policy, copied below, states that the University will not affirmatively encourage travel that contravenes Department of State Travel Warnings.
Students who are contemplating Law Center-supported travel to locations covered by a State Department Travel Warning, as well as staff and faculty who propose to facilitate their travel, are required to request advance permission from the Office of Transnational Programs as described below. In evaluating such requests, that office will consider the content of the relevant travel warning, assess the academic and/or career purpose of the travel, and evaluate the individual's personal preparedness.
(IMPORTANT NOTE: All faculty, staff and students must also comply with the University's Infectious Disease Travel Policy: http://policies.georgetown.edu/infectiousdiseases/.)
Law Center Policy
Students who are considering travel to a Travel Warning country under a Georgetown-affiliated internship or other program must receive advance approval from the Office of Transnational Programs. Georgetown-affiliated programs include, but are not limited to, the International Internship Program, Equal Justice Foundation and Clifford Chance summer funding programs, Student Travel Committee, Human Rights Institute Fact-Finding Mission, and the International Women’s Human Rights Clinic. Students who do not receive approval prior to commencing travel will be withdrawn from the affiliated program and will forfeit any funding and other programmatic benefits.
In addition, in conformance with University policy, faculty and staff contemplating travel for students to a location subject to a current Travel Warning are required to request and obtain advance permission for such travel from the Office of Transnational Programs. Students traveling under such programs must also receive independent approval as indicated above.
While there is no fixed deadline for submitting such a request, prudence dictates that prospective travelers to Travel Warning countries anticipate substantial delays or denial. It is the prospective traveler’s responsibility to contact the Office of Transnational Programs early enough to preserve the option of alternative travel plans.
Requesting Travel Approval
Students applying for approval for Law Center-facilitated travel to a Travel Warning country must take the following steps:
- Review the State Department Travel Warning for the country to which they wish to travel. Travel Warnings are available at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764.html.
- Submit a “Travel Warning Request Form” to Cara Morris, Director of Transnational Programs, at woltemat@law.georgetown.edu, that describes the academic and/or career purpose of the travel, confirms that the applicant has read and understands the relevant travel warning, and explains the individual's personal preparedness.
The Office of Transnational Programs will make every effort to respond to all requests within 10 business days. As consultation may be required within and outside of the Law Center, applicants should anticipate the possibility that approval will be substantially delayed or denied. It is the prospective traveler’s responsibility to contact the Office of Transnational Programs early enough to preserve the option of alternative travel plans.
After Receiving Travel Approval
Following approval by the Office of Transnational Programs, students must :
- Submit the pre-departure forms and other materials normally required for students travelling abroad on Georgetown-sponsored internships and other programs: http://www.law.georgetown.edu/otp/IntlInternshipPredeparture.htm.
- Enroll in the U.S Department of State's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/.
- Register trip information and personal travel data with International SOS at http://www1.georgetown.edu/svp/rm/services/international/36899.html. (Click on “Access International SOS Here”, and provide Net ID and Password.)
- Register on the Overseas Advisory Counsel's website at http://www.osac.gov/. This will allow you to subscribe to daily news and reports.
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TRAVEL WARNING POLICY
UPDATED 4/19/2007
BY THE
Executive Committee of the President
Revised 01/24/2011
Georgetown University does not affirmatively encourage travel that contravenes Department of State Travel Warnings. Faculty and staff who are contemplating travel for students to a location subject to a current Travel Warning must request and obtain advance permission from the University. In evaluating such requests, the University will assess whether the proposed trip complies with the applicable Travel Warning.
Students who are planning to study on an independent basis for a degree requirement, required or sponsored internship, academic credit or with other financial support from the University in a location subject to a current Travel Warning must request and obtain advance permission from the University. In evaluating such requests, the University will assess the academic necessity and appropriateness of the proposed study, the individual's personal preparedness, and give great weight to the content of the relevant travel warning. Main campus, medical and law students should submit their requests to the Office of International Programs of their respective campuses for approval.
